Breaking Bad Season 4 Premiere Review

Episode Title: Box Cutter
Overall Season Rating: A
Episode Rating: A

Breaking Bad is finally back! And the first episode does not disappoint. This premiere had everything that makes a great Breaking Bad episode. Walt acting like a bad ass, only to find out what a true bad ass looks like, Jesse clearly showing that he's not just some junkie, plenty of humor, and of course Skyler needs something to do.  I've been reading The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson and it's clear to me that Gus is a psychopath. His stare is enough to send a chill down my spine, and I love how he does it even when he's not angry.

This episode he certainly is angry as the action picks up right where last season's mammoth cliffhanger left us.  I won't spoil it for people who have not watched, at least not yet, but the reveal is done perfectly. There is another scene later in the episode that shows any new viewer why Breaking Bad is the best show on TV. I challenge anyone to find a show that would have a scene anywhere near as brilliant. Aaron Paul though, showing that he was more than deserving of that Emmy last year says almost nothing the entire episode until the end. When he finally does speak, it's clear the day's experience has left him a new way of looking at their predicament.

Read on for the episode recap.


The episode begins in a flashback. We see Gale setting up the lab, and getting positively giddy about all the cool equipment he'll be using. What I love about this scene is that it shows us not only that Gale was Gus' original head chemist, but it was GALE who eventually changed Gus' mind about doing business with Walt. Gale explains that the purest meth he's able to make is 96%, but Walt's "blue" meth is 99% pure. This bit of history changes our view on the relationship between the characters, and I think it makes us mourn Gale even more.

We then get a shot, from Gale's perspective of Jesse shooting him, and leaving. Cut then to the sound of neighbors calling the police. I loved this choice. It's clean, it's real, and gives us a glimmer of thought that he may still be alive. However, he's not alive of course as Victor comes running in to check on him. He quickly leaves and finds Jesse still at the location sitting in a car. Victor orders Jesse to take him to the lab. I again love that Jesse was just sitting there. He's so shell shocked to even be thinking at that moment, and I'm sure he knows it's best if he just goes with the flow. At the lab, Mike and Victor discuss the situation and both are obviously quite upset. Mike then decides it's time to call Gus.

Meanwhile, Skyler wakes up to find Marie at her place. Marie drops off some of Hanks medical bills and remarks that Walt's car is in the driveway. Skyler knows Walt's not there so she starts getting worried. First, she moves his car, then starts looking for him. She calls Saul only to find that he doesn't know, but assures her that he's fine. We know he is lying of course because Saul is now terrified and is searching for bugs. At the end of their call Saul even asks his body guard if he has a passport. Is Saul thinking of fleeing?  Skyler then gets a locksmith to break into Walt's apartment. I don't know why she didn't just break the glass rather than make up that huge story about getting mugged, but whatever. We also see that Hank is still recuperating, and has started buying rocks or "minerals" online. This was an interesting scene, but I think it only served as a "hey this is what Hank is up to" scene cause we didn't learn anything new or important.

Back at the lab, Walt suggests they start cooking. He says that even if Gus is angry he still will want to stick to a schedule. Turns out that Victor has been watching him, and knows the sequence. While Walt has little faith in him, he clearly is worried. When he mocks him for not knowing about the aluminum, he is shocked to see that Victor does in fact know the sequence pretty damn well. Gus then arrives. He doesn't say a word, but he slowly walks down the stairs and puts on a lab coat. Walt is trying to explain his actions, saying "Gale vs. me, or Gale vs Jesse, Gale loses". Jesse looks over at him and seems to wonder if that really is true. Would Walt put his own life on the line, or the life of his family to protect Jesse. Past events would suggest yes, but with Walt you can never be sure.

Walt then starts taking shots at Victor. He tests him on the chemical formula, and spouts off a few scientific terms, and situations that could arise. He suggests that Gus will lose millions because of Victor's poor quality meth. Without saying a word, Gus walks to a drawer, takes out box cutter and proceeds to walk around Jesse and Walt. Then he walks over to Victor, and slits his henchman's throat. I should have seen that coming, but I did not. As blood spatters all over Jesse and Walt they are forced to watch the life drain out of Victor, and then fall to the floor. Gus walks away, takes off the coat, washes his hands and goes upstairs. Before he leaves he says his first words of the episode. "Well, get back to work". Chilling scene to say the least.

Walt and Jesse are tasked with disposing of the body. I love that Mike just watches, and sees what these two do. Turns out their plan is known to us fans, but not to Mike. They will soak him in acid just like they did to their first kill back in season one. I love call backs. After this, Jesse and Walt at at a fast food joint and Jesse is just chilling. Walt asks him how he is, and Jesse explains that Gus and them understand each other. He says, "We're all on the same page." and that Gus was saying to them "If I can't kill you, you'll sure as shit wish you were dead" powerful and scary as shit words Mr. Pinkman.

Walt then arrives home to find his car missing. Skyler tells him she moved it, and she doesn't ask him any questions about where he was. Things has really changed during the past season. The episode is not over yet though as AMC extended the episode to mess with those that use DVR. We see the police at Gale's, and as we look around the apartment we see one of his belongings could cause a lot of problems later on. Two words, LAB NOTES.

Another great episode from the best show on TV. This season is going to be EPIC.